The story of the Spanish conquest of the New World is often very much like a great fresco, painted in broad strokes and highlighting the figures of the great conquistadores. There are little people in the background, but they seem to serve small purpose other than to fill up the scene. The impression is equally often left that the Conquest was accomplished with the passage of the “greats” and that then Spain settled down to rule her new dominions. Of course, a bit of sober thought tells us that things could not have happened quite this way; but there is relatively little done research-wise to correct the impression. The present little study, four studies in fact, seeks to show what the little people of the conquest were doing in the great enterprise. In a sense these studies can be said to be something of an analysis of the anatomy of the Conquest. The author’s sub-title is “Fisonomía historico-social de un tipo de conquista.”
He debates about the proper term to be used in designating the groups and their activities—“cabalgada,” he feels, best describes the actuality. The first study turns on the islands. Patterns set there were carried to the mainland, especially to Nicaragua and later to Peru. Next, the functioning of the conquistador groups in Darién and Panamá claims his attention, and these he finds as prototypes for action centering around Coro, Santa Marta, and Cartagena. The final essay suggests points of comparison between pre-conquest operations in the home peninsula and in Brazil with those of the Spaniards in the Tierra Firme provinces—he finds more points of dissimilarity than of strict conformity. The whole study is enlightening and provocative. The precious metals and other treasure, slaves, and goods are the prime goals of the “cabalgadas.” With interesting documentation he shows the relationships within the groups themselves and of the groups with the authorities. Out of his study come a number of new insights, not the least of which is a fuller knowledge of how the Conquest was really effected. The work is short but a reading is definitely rewarding. The bibliography is full and suggestive.
